A BRIEF 

HISTORY 



13 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 

IN GOFFSTOWN, N. H., 

BKING TAftT OF A 

SERMON PREACHED BY 

Samuel L. Gerould, Pastor, 

JULY 0. 187G, 
WITH A FEW LATER ADDITIONS. 



BRISTOL, N. H.: 
11. W. MUSGROVE, PRINTER. 

1881. 




Glass. 
Book. 



Ya.a- 



A BRIEF 

HIST OR Y 



CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 

IN GOFFSTOWN, N. H., 

lU-.ING PAUT OK A 

SERMON PREACHED BY 
Samuel L. Gerould, Pastor, 

JULY 9, 1876, 
WITH A FEW LATER ADDITIONS. 



BRISTOL, N. U.: 
U. VV. MUSGHOVE, PUINTEIi. 

1S8L 



•CI 



'a A- 



HISTORY. 



This town was settled in 1741 or 1742, and was chartereil June 
17, 1761. The people at that time were, as in all New England 
towns, a church-going people. It was considered disreputable to 
be habitually absent from divine service on the Sabbath. Accord- 
ingly we find that, as soon as possible after receiving their charter, 
measures were taken to secure the ministrations of the gospel. At 
the first annual town meeting, held at the barn of Thomas Karr 
(where the meetings were convened for man}' ^ears), it was '"Voted, 
that £100 be raised for preaching," and Dea. Thomas Karr and 
Asa Pattee were appointed a committee to expend it. It was also 
"Voted, that half the preaching be at James Karr's and the other 
half at John Smith's." It is probable that all the public religious 
services of that da^^ were held in barns, as we find by a vote in 
March, 1763, that it was the will of the town that the preaching for 
that year be at James Karr's barn. At the same meeting £100 was 
appropriated for preaching. At the annual meeting March 5, 1764, 
£300 was appropriated, and it was -'Voted that £200 be preached 
out at John Smith's, and the other £100 thereof be equally divided 
on each side of the Piscataquog river." The next 3'ear the same 
amount was appropriated, but the services were all to be held "at 
Thomas Karr's barn." In 1766 the amount voted for preaching 
was reduced to £150, and the selectmen were instructed to expend 
it. In 1767 only £9 was voted for this purpose, but as £3 was all 
that was raised for town charges, it is probable that the difference 
was owing to the shrinkage of the currency. Two somewhat curi- 
ous votes stand side by side in connection with the annual meeting 
of this year, which will serve to show the changes time and truth 
have wrought. The one is "that the town support no school this 
year ;" the other that it "pay for the rum used at the bridge by the 
Mast fordway." 



4 

Tt, will have been observed that the town, rather than individ- 
uals, supported public worship at this time. The towns also 
erected the meeting-houses. The Congregationalists were the 
"standing order," and so all the tax-i)ayers, for many years, con- 
tributed to the support of this denomination. There was a provis- 
ion, however, b}' which those conscientiously opposed to this order, 
and in favor of some other, could be released by the selectmen, in 
which eases their taxes went to support the denomination to which 
they were attached. There were many Presbyterians, some Ana- 
baptists, as they were called, and a lew Episcopalians, that, in this 
manner, were released from supporting the Congregationalists. 
l^ut all voters must pay their proportion towards the support of 
some religious worship, and for many years the town assessed and 
collected all moneys expended for this object. Various sums were 
3'earl3- voted by the town for this purpose, until the formation of a 
church and the settlement of a pastor, when the sum was usually 
voted b}' the church, but assessed and collected by the town. 

The Congregational Church was organized Oct. 30, 1771. Its 
records, for the first ten years of its existence, were destroyed by 
fire many ye^rs since, so it is impossible to give its strength or say 
ver}- much about it, for that time. The names of eighteen peisons, 
ineidenlall}' mentioned, who must have been members, have been 
culled from the subsequent records ; and, as most of these are 
names of men, it is safe to presume that more than fifty nuist have 
been added to the church during this period. 

It is probable that a Presbyterian church or society was formed 
very soon after, for in an old record book of the Londonderiy Pres- 
bytery, lost for mail}' 3%'ars, but recentl}' discovered in one of the 
antiquarian bookstores of Boston, is this record from the minutes 
of a meeting held at Newburyport, Mass., Ma}' 13, 1772 : "Order- 
ed that a certificate be delivered to the Presbyterian society of 
Gotfstown, manifesting their being under the care of this Presby- 
tery." The Prebyterians held a service, more or less, every 3'ear 
in })riv;ite houses and barns, but never had a meeting-house, nor a 
settled minister, although a certain Mr. Pidgin preached for them 
some time. Very little can be ascertained in regard to this church. 
In the town records, under date of April 16, 1781, fifty-six names 
of males are appended to a declaration that the}' are Presb3terians. 



It is possible tliat not until this year did thej become a separate, 
leiral parish, though relieved from paying ''rates" in 1773. 

From tlie beginning there were some Anabaptists, as tiiey were 
then called, whose "parish rales," at their requej.t. were applied to 
tlie support of Baptist preaching at Hopkinton, where they attend- 
ed till 17i)o. During this year a chnrch of this order was formed 
in town, though it had hardly moie than a name to live until it was 
reorganized in 1820. They were without a house of worship till 
1.S04, when the present structure was erected. 

There were also a very few Ei)iscopalians, whose paiish rates 
were applied at Newburyport, Mass. IIow often these i)ersons 
worsiiipped in thai place we h-u-e no means of knowing, but they 
hardlv could have gone so far more than once or twice in a year. 
The town records have this entry under date of INIarch 7, 1791. — 
"This certifies that Capt. John Bntterfield hath joined the Episco- 
pal Society in Guffstuwu, and means to support the gospel in that 
mode of worship. (Signed) John Smith, John Chjgston, Wardens." 
Under date of March 4, 1793, is this record— "This may certify all 
persons whom it may concern, that Mr. Enoch Eaton of Goffsiown 
professes himself to be a member of the p:piscopal church now- 
erected in said town, and has helped to maintain the gospel in that 
line for some time past, as, witness our hands. Job Dow, John Bnt- 
terfield, John Smith, Win. McDougal, Wardens." From this it 
would appear that there was at that time an Episcopal church or 
society in this t )wn, but I have been unable to discover other evi- 
dence of it. 

As early as 17GG the inhabitants began to move for the buihling 
of a phice of worship At a town meeting held Sept. 29th of this 
ye ir it was "Voted, that the meeting-house be built on the south 
side of the river on the convenientest place in the crotch of the 
roads as they lead from the bridge to the Mastroa-l." This is very 
near where the Baptist church now stands. It was also "Voted, 
that the house be forty-four feet long, thirty-eight feet wide, and 
twenty-two feet post," and that "it be raised, boarded and shingled 
by the first day of Octol»er next." But the question of the two 
sides of the river disturbed our fathers, as it has their children, 
and the oppositim to this vote was so strong that the coflimittee 



did nothing. The town was also about evenly divided upon an- 
other question. The settlers on the north side of the river were 
mostly Congregationalists ; those on the south side were mainly 
Presbyterians. The latter, in getting a vote to build on their side 
of the river, gained a temporary triumph. But the votes were 
soon rescinded. The next July the town voted to build a smaller 
house 'Miear l^ea. Karr's shop," which vote was rescinded at the fol- 
lowing March meeting, in 17G8. But our ftithers evidently were 
becoming wearied with this contention, and so at this meeting fixed 
upon tiie location, and empowered Samuel Richards, Enoch Page, 
Wm. McDoell, Asa Pattee, Joshua Martin, Job Rowell and Thom- 
as Karr to build the house "according to their own mind." 

On the 27th of April, 1768, the house which most of us remem- 
ber, standing near the school- liouse at the Center, and which was 
taken down in 1869, .was raised. It was not completed for several 
years. Various sums were appropriated from year to year for this 
purpose. It was occupied as a place of worship as soon as shin- 
gled and boarded. In August, 1769, the "pew ground" in the 
body of the building was sold at a "vendue," and the avails were 
used toward completing the house. The names of the purchasers 
at that time were Samuel Blodgett, Wm. Gilchrist, Robert Gilmore, 
Capt. James Karr, Dea. Thomas Karr, Job Kidder, Joseph Little, 
Capt. John Mack, Daniel McFarland, Samuel McFarland, Asa 
Pattee, Samuel Richards, Benjamin Stevens and Moses AVells. 
The "vendue" occui)ied two days and was probabl}' accompanied 
with considerable discussion. Others afterwards secured "pew 
ground," until most of the bod}- of the house was sold. 

The secoml house of worship in town was erected in 1815 and 
1816, and was dedicated July 3, 1816 ; Rev. John II. Church, d.d., 
of Pelham, preaching the sermon. It stood upon or very near the 
present site of Mr. Samuel M. Christie's house. It was quite a 
large building, with galleries on three sides, and had a bell. After 
its erection services were held in this house two-thirds of the time, 
the other third being in the old house at the Center. In 1845 it 
taken down and moved awa}'. 

The third meeting-house was built in 1838, which was the one occu- 
pied b^ the Methodists, and which was struck by lightning and 
burned a few years since. The old meeting-house had become 



quite dilapidated and uncomfortable, and a new one, upon which 
the town should have no claim, was very much needed. Besides 
this there was a feeling on the part of those living in the Center 
and east part of the town, that they w-ere not receiving so man}' 
privileges as the west village, a large part of the preaching being 
at the latter place. The^- were also hoping to form a parish of 
their own, and so have sanctuary privileges every Sabbath. Their 
desires, however, were not realized, and in 1842 the house was 
sold to parties by whom the Methodist church was organized. 

During the pastorate of Rev. Isaac AVilley, and largely through 
his influence, the present house of worship was erected, at a cost 
of about 82,500,* It was dedicated in October, 1845, from which 
time all tlie Sabbath services were held in this house. Its seating 
capacit}- was increased in 18G9 by the addition of twenty-eight 
pews. 

A parsonage, costing, complete, about $2,700, was built in 1870, 
and a chapel or vestry, for the socImI meetings of the church, was 
erected in 1875, at an expense of $2,750. 

Having spoken of the houses of worship, we naturally next 
come to the ministers of the gospel. A history of the ministers 
of olden time is largely a history of the church over which they 
were settled. There was then, on the part of church members, 
very little of what we now call religions activity. Such a thing as 
a la3man talking religion or praying, otherwise than in his own 
' family was hardly known. About the only public expression of 
religious life consisted in attending the two ver}' long preaching 
services on the Sabbath, being punctual at the communion, and 
presenting ones children for baptism. Upon all these points they 
were very strict. The church w^as, therefore, more largel}' than now, 
what its pastor made it. 

At a town meeting held Aug. 31, 1769, it was "Voted, that we 
keep Mr. Currier four da3s," meaning, probably, four Sabbaths. 
It is likel}' he had already preached several Sabbaths, being em- 
plo3-ed by the committee for that 3'ear, and that the town, with a 
view to his settlemesit, wished to hear him longer, as we find that, 
on the 24th of October following, a committee was appointed to 
treat with him in regard to settlement. On the 13th of February, 

*TI)is was the cost in money. Had time and labor been reckoned the amount would Lave 
been hugely increased. 



1770, a forinn! call to settle in the ministiy was voteil hiin by the 
town. But for some reason it was not accepted. It was renewed 
July 29, 1771, and was accepted the 17th of August following. 
He was to have, as a settlement, the use of a certain tract of land, 
reserved by tlie proprietors of the town for that purpose, and £40 
a year the first five jcars, £45 the next three years and £50 a 3'ear 
alter eight years. His salary was to be paid, one-half in corn and 
tlie other half in labor. He was ordained Oct. oO, 1771. the same 
day the church was organized. Mr. (^urrier was settled by the 
town rather than by the church. The ordaining council, which 
also recognized the church, was composed of Rev, Daniel Emer- 
son of Hollis, Rev. Henry True of Hampstead, and Rev. Gyles 
Merrill of Plaistow, chosen by the town, besides five chosen liy 
Mr. Curlier whose names are not given. His ministiy wa? a brief 
one for those da3-s, a little short of three 3'ears. He was veiy in- 
temperate in his habits, and was dismissed l)y the town and church 
Ang. "29, 1774. without the advice of a council. Probably he did 
not care to ni)pear before one. 

Rev. Joseph Currier was born in Amesbur}', Mass., March 18, 
1743 ; was graduated at Harvard College in 17G5, and studied the- 
ology in private. After his dismissal from tliis church he removed 
to Corinth, Vt., where he died July 24, 1829, aged 86. 

This town shared in the burdens of the Revolutionary war, fur- 
nishing seventy-four men for the army, besides large quantities of 
beet (13,000 lbs. at one time) assigned them by the government, as 
its quota. For this reason, probably, after Mr. Currier left, there 
was no stated preaching, but only occasional sui)plies, till 1781. 
The fact that the Presbyterians and Anabaptists had been relieved 
April 19, 1773, fi'om paying their rates for Congregational preach- 
ing may have had something to do with it. 

On the 27tli of Dec. 1781, Cornelius Waters was ordained and 
installed pastor of this church, the call having been voted the 23d 
of August previous. In this transaction the town had no part. 
The churches in Sutton, Amherst, Merrimack, Pembroke, Plaistow, 
Atkinson, Hollis, Concord, Warner, Hopkinton, and Hampstead 
were invited on the council. As preparing the way for his coming 
and his success in his ministry, the church observed the first day 
of December as a day of fasting and prayer. Rev. Henry True 



9 

of Hampstead was Moderator of the Coiincil, and Rev. Jeremiah 
Barnard of Amherst scribe. Mr. True gave the charge to the 
pastor, Rev. Jacob Burnap, d.d., of Merrimack, gave the fellow- 
ship of the churches, Rev. Gyles Merrill of Plaistow tlie ordaining 
prayer, and Rev. Elijah Fletcher of Ilopkinton the concluding 
prayer. 

He received a settlement of £100, and a salary of £70 a year for 
the first five years, and £80 thereafter. He seems to have been a 
very worthy man. During his ministry, fifty-seven were added to 
the church and thirty-three ''owned the Covenant." During the 
latter part of his pastorate there were dissentions in the church. 
A council was called for their settlement, but they were not settled. 
A day of fasting and prayer was appointed, but the difficulties con- 
tinued. Mr. Currier was too loose in his liabits, and Mr. Waters 
by some was thought too strict. The lovers of ardent spirits were 
determined he should leave. So he asked a dismission, which was 
granted May 4, 1705, after a ministry of fourteen years. To the 
record is ai)pended the following : — ''Notandum Bene. The vote 
accepting his resignation was passed in the east end of the meeting- 
house on the common, at the time of the annual parish meeting 
by adjournment, and the church condescended to do it to quell the 
violence, rage and confusion which prevailed in a distracted party 
of the church and pai'ish in the parish meeting." The opposition 
won the day, which was all they cared for, as the leaders ceased 
attending meeting or helping in the support of worship so that 
after three years is was found necessar}- to expel them. 

Cornelius Waters, the second pastor of this church, was born in 
Millbury, Mass.,May 12, 1749; graduated at D:irtmouth College 
in 1774. Like Mr. Currier he studied theology in private. From 
here he removed to Ashby, Mass., where he was installed in 1797 
and dismissed in 181G. He continued to reside in Ashby till his 
death, July 30, 1824. 

After the expulsion from the church of those disaffected with 
Mr. Waters, the sober, second judgment of the people convinced 
them they luubr?^ done wrong. There had been much hard feeling 
between the Congregationalists and Presbyterians. An unholy 
strife for members had been carried on by both churches. A day 
of listing and prayer was appointed, and the Christian people 



10 



were humbled. A vote was passed b}- the Congregational church 
that tliey would, thereafter, be more careful in the reception of 
members. The result, in a few words, was that a "plan of union" 
between the two churches was adopted Dec. 29, 1801, and the}- be- 
come one, under the name of the Presbyterian-Congregational 
Church of Goffstown. The Government was to be according to 
the Congregational polity, with the right of appeal to Presbytery 
or Mutnal Council, as the parties might elect. 

Up to 1790 the Half Way Covenant seems to have been in use. 
This was an arrangement by which adidts, whose outward lives 
were correct, by "owning the covenant," were permitted to receive 
the rite of baptism themselves, and present their children for this 
ordinance. We have the names of thirty-eight persons who were 
admitted under this covenant. It made bad work with religion 
wherever it was adopted, as it was virtually a letting down of the 
bars of the church to an}' who chose to come in in this way, with- 
out any personal interest in the Saviour of sinners. This Half 
Way Covenant was originally promulgated in 1662, by a Council 
convened in Boston by the General Court of Massachusetts, to 
settle existing difficulties in the churches. The reason for its 
adoption was, because at that time none but baptized persons 
could vote. But it was adopted or was in use in many places, as 
here, a long time after this reason had ceased to exist, so far as 
applied to town aflairs. All who "owned the Covenant" could, 
however, vote on church affairs, and nuich trouble was sometimes 
made in consequence. It seems gradually- to have fallen into dis- 
vise in this place as, ever after the union of tlie two churches, the 
church members regulated their own affairs as now ; except that 
in the matter of choosing and dismissing pastors, the act of the 
church must be accepted by the parish, as now b}- the society. 

Upon the adoption of the plan of union, Dec. 29, 1801, a call 
was extended to Mr. David Lawrence Morril "to settle with us in 
the work of the gospel ministr}'," and he was ordained and in- 
stalled March 3, 1802. He received a settlement of $300 and an 
annual salary of $300. For the purpose of meeting the desires of 
the Presbyterians, six elders were appointed, namely, John Rich- 
ardson, Jona. Stevens, Thomas Warren, Thomas Shirley, Thomas 
Kenned}' and Robert Moore, the last three having been, originally,. 



11 

Presbyterians. John Taggart and William Story were soon after 
added. The ministry of Mr. Morril was, on the whole, a success- 
lul one, for he was a man of prudence, alnlity and piet}*, and so 
won the confidence of the entire commnnity. Thirty-four were 
added to the church during his pastorate. The Presbyterian and 
Congregational elements, however, were not quite in harmonj', and 
man^' of the former withdrew in 1803. Intemperance prevailed in 
the church to an alarming extent, but, to the credit of the church 
be it said, every case was met b}' discipline. Mr. Morril's health 
having become pooi', or rather his voice failing him, he resigned 
his charge and closed his labors Nov. 4, 1809. His resignation 
was not acted upon by a council till Jul}- 10, 1811. It is probable 
that in the intervening time he occasionally preached. From this 
time till the latter i)art of 1818 there was no regular preach- 
ing, although the town appiopriated f r this purpose in 1816 the 
sum of S200, the societ}- the same amount in 1817, and SlaO 
in 1819. 

David Lawrence Moiril was born in P4)ping, June 10, 1772. He 
never went to college ; but studied theology with Rev. Jesse Rem- 
ington of Candia. In 1808 he received the degrees of A. M. and 
M. D. from Dartmouth College, and in 1825 the degree of LL.D. 
from the University of Vermont. He continued to reside in this 
town for man}' ^-ears after his dismissal, in the practice of medi- 
cine, and was moderator and clerk of the church until another 
pastor Avas chosen. He represented the town in the Legislature 
from 1810 to 1816, inclusive, the latter year being Speaker of the 
House. The same year he was elected to the United States Sen- 
ate for six years from March 4, 1817. He was also Governor of 
the State iu 1824-5. He removed to Concord in the autumn of 
1831, Avhere he engaged in the book trade, and where he died Jan. 
27, 1849. 

In 1816 an Ecclesiastical Society was organized for the support 
of Congregational worship, called the Religious Union Societ\% 
which was incorporated Dec. 11, 1816.* This remains until this 
day. 

In 1819 a call was extended to Mr. Hosea Wheeler which was 
declined. 

In the spring and summer of 1819 the place was blessed with a 



12 

very powerful revival under the preacliino: of Rev. Abel Manning. 
Sixty-eight were received into the church in the year 1819 ; the 
largest number ever received in any one year. In the "Histony of 
tlie New Hampshire Churches," Rev. E. H. Richardson says of this 
revival "There were a few women whose perseveiing praters, in 
the midst of great obstacles, were answered in this revival of 
religion. They jorayed it into existence." 

Benjamin Henry Pitman was ordained Oct. 18, 1820, for the 
term of five j'ears. During his ministry, in 1822, the Religious 
Union Societj^ received by will of Thomas W. Thompson, one 
hundred seventy acres of land, the avails of which were to be 
used for the support of a Congregational minister. Mr. Pitman 
had man}' warm friends, and he was earnestly requested to remain 
longer than his five 3'ears, but he declined. He was dismissed 
Nov. 15, 1825. The following incident occurred during his minis- 
try which illustrates the ditference between those times and these. 
In the autumn of 1825, the bog road, so called, was built, and 
Mr. Pitman, as road surveyor for one of the districts, had charge 
of a certain part. Strong drink was fieelj' used at that time, and 
thought no sin, provided one did not take enough to overcome him 
On this occasion Mr. Pitman did, and as a consequence got into a 
quarrel with some of his men. But, to his honor be it said, he af- 
terwards souglit and obtained the forgiveness of the individuals and 
of the church — for the quarrel, — not for the drinking. The bibulous 
propensities of the inhabitants at that time were strongly developed. 
Shall I give you the names of those licensed bj- the town to mix and 
sell liquors that ^-ear? They were Daniel Farmer, Robert Hall, 
Jona. Butterfield, Gideon Fhiiiders, Parker & Whittle, John Smith, 
p4)hiaim Warren, Daniel M. Shirley, Eliphalet Richards and John 
Little. 

Mr. Pitman was born in Newport, R. I., Nov. 28, 1789 ; received 
neither a college nor a seminary education ; but probably- studied 
theolog3' in private. On leaving this place he returned to New- 
port, R. I. He died Mttrch 8, 18G8. I cannot ascertain whether 
he ever preached after leaving this place. 

It will have appeared that there was need of a temperance ref- 
ormation in this place. "When the enem}- cometli in like a flood" 
we have the promise that "the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a 



13 



standard against bim." It -wns just about this time, 1826, when 
the temperance reformation in this country commenced. A few 
had received the light, but most w^ere in darkness. Rev. Henry 
Wood, who followed Mr. Pitman, was a total abstinence man. He 
was ordained Maj' 31, 1826. Through his exertions and that of a 
few of the church, a vote was passed that jear discountenancing the 
use of liquor at funerals. That was as fiir as the3- could go at 
that time, as rum was used upon ever}' occasion by nearly every 
person. It was always set before the minister when he made his 
parish calls. But so much advance had been made under Mr. 
Wood that, in the winter of 1829-30, a vote was passed b}' the 
church testifying against the use of liquors in an^' form, except as 
medicine. It is not to be inferred from this that every n)ember of 
the church had become a teetotaler, but that the light was breaking 
and the temperance cause advancing. Mr. Wood was not only a 
temperance man, he was a spiritual man, whom many with U5 to- 
day I'emember with tender interest. His ministry was blessed 
with revivals, one hundred fift3'-two being added to the church. 
He seems to have left on account of inadequate support. He was 
dismissed Nov. 29, 1831. 

He was born in Loudon, April 10,1796. Was graduated from 
Daitmouth College in 1822, where he was tutor the following year. 
He studied theology at Princeton, 1823-4, and was Professor of 
Languages in Hampton Sidney College, Va., 1825, from Avhich in- 
stitution he received the degree of D.D. in 1867. After his dis- 
missal from this churcli, Nov. 30, 1831, he preached three and a 
half j-ears in Haverhill, five and a half years in Hanover, edited 
the Covgregational Journal at Concord for fourteen j'ears, preach- 
ed at Canaan two years, was U. S. Consul in S^-ria and Palestine 
four 3ears, and Chaplain U. S. N. from 1858 until his death at 
Philadelphia, Oct. 9, 1873. 

On the da^' after INIr. Wood was dismissed Rev. David Stowell 
w'as ordained. The ministry- of the former closed and that of the 
hitter commenced in the midst of a revival. It is somewhat re- 
markable that all the discussions in regard to raising Mr, Wood's 
salary, some of which were heated, did not have the effect of driv- 
ing a\va3' the Hoi}' Spirit — but doubtless there were fervent prayers 
continual!}- ascending that He might continue. to abide with them. 



14 



These facts teach this truth, that a revival does not depend upon 
an3^ one man, not even upon the minister. Mr. 'Slowell was a 
strong temperance man, and dealt its enemies manj^ heavj^ blows. 

A sermon which he preached in this plnce fort3^-one years ago, 
and which was printed, is said to be a fair example of his style. 
He was dismissed Dec. 15, I80G ; the cause assigned in his letter 
of resignation being ill health. This letter is full of tenderness 
and affection, and a hearty vote of confidence in him was after- 
wards passed b}' the church. 

Mr. Stowell was born in AVestmoreland, Dec. 29, 1S04, gradu 
ated at Dartmouth College in 1829 ; studied theolog}- in private. 
Before coming here he taught the Derrj- Acadeni}' two years. He 
went from here to Townsend, Mass., where he was installed pastor, 
June 28, 1837. While there the fellowship of the churches wns 
withdrawn from him, on account of alleged misconduct. He went 
to Fitzwilliam and engaged in fanning for a number of years, and 
died there March 29, 18.54. 

All the pastors who have thus far been named have passed to 
their reward. Most of them were good and faithful men, though 
not without their faults. They are now seeing the fruits of their 
labors, as the}' could not see them here. In most cases the 
seed they sowed was good, it was watered with their prayers and 
tears, but it did not spring up till they had passed away. It ver}' 
often occurs that God sends one generation into the world to sow 
seed the harvest of which another generation shall gather. 

We come now to the ministry' of Rev. Isaac Willey, who was in- 
stalled Nov. 23, 1837. He was the first pastor of this church who 
had ever had a previous settlement. He came here from Roches- 
ter where he was ordained Jan. 18, 182(5, and dismissed in 1834. 

His pastorate here extended over nearl}' seventeen 3'ears, the 
longest term of any. 

Just after Mr. Willey's settlement, as he was engaged to preach 
all the time at the west village, the members of the church living 
at the Center, and in the east part of the town, to the number of 
sixty-four, feeling that the}' were neglected b}' the removal of the 
meetings to the west village, sought letters of dismission for the 
purpose of forming a church of their own at the Center. They ap- 
plied to Mr. Wallace, before he was settled at Manchester, to preach 



15 

for them. If we may judge fron) the votes passed at that time, this 
request was entertained in a Christian spirit, without any attempt 
to force them to remain. The result was, their petitions were with- 
drawn, and an arrangment was made l\y which Mr. Wilhy was to 
preach one third of the time at their new house. 

During Mr. Wille3-'s ministry, his house, situated wliere David 
Grant's now stands, was burned in the dead of night, with 
most of its contents ; and he and his family, ten in number, were 
left without a shelter. In this fire many of the valuable papers 
and records of the church were destroyed. His pecuniary loss 
was largely made up to him through the liberality of friends in 
this and adjoining towns. 

From the "History of the New Hampshire Churches," I make this 
extract. "In the beginning of 1841, a women in the character of a 
preacher came to this town, and held meetings almost daily. Her 
hearers increased until the large church (the old church at the Cen- 
ter) holding nearh' one thousand persons, was filled. She professed 
no connection with any existing church, and was sustained for a 
time by persons who had been exiielled from the Congregational 
and Baptist churches. In the Ibllowing spring, 1842, more than 
one half the voters in town, and nearly all those who hud never 
been willing to support any other preacher, came to her support. 
A nuinbei- of persons, who had made a profession of pict3' hastily, 
were drawn oti' from each of the churches. The excitement oc- 
casioned by her pix'acbing after a few months declined." 

This event seems to have caused great fear to the church. There 
was, however, hanlly any occasion for it. Had the church let it en- 
tiiely alone doubtless the excitement would have passed away 
sooner than it did. It sometimes requires a highly* sanctified hu- 
man nature and common sense to let such things alone. The ad- 
vice of Gamaliel to the people, after the excitement produced by 
Peter's preaching, is often worth following in these days : — "Re- 
frain from these men, and let them alone : for if this counselor this 
work be of men, it will come to nought : but if it be of God, ye can- 
not overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." 

Fifty-five were added to the church during Mr. Willey's minis- 
try ; but his work is not to be measured alone bj' this standard. 
He closed his labors March 27, 1853, but was not formally dismiss- 
ed till May 17, 1854. 



16 

He was born in Campton, Sept. 8, 1793 ; was graduated at 
Dartmouth (College in 1822, and studied theology at Andover with 
the class of 1825, and also with Rev. Benet Tyler, d.d. After 
completing his Icibors here, he was appointed Agent of the Amer- 
ican Bilile Societ}' for New Hampshire, retaining his home here un- 
til 1865, when he removed to Pembroke, where he now resides. 

A call was extended b}' the church and society in 1854 to Mr. 
Franlilin Tuxbur3-, but it was not accepted. 

The next pastor was Rev. P^iias H. Richardson. He was born in 
Lebanon, Aug. 11, 1827 ; was graduated at Dartmouth College in 
1850 ; at Andover Theological Seminary- in 1853. He was ordain- 
ed pastor of this church May 18, 1854, and was dismissed Oct. 30, 
1856. Subsequently he was pastor at Dover seven years ; at Provi- 
dence, R. I., three years ; at Westfield, Mass., five years ; at Hart- 
ford, Conn., seven years, and was settled at New Britain, Conn., in 
1878, where he now is. He received the degree of D.D. from his 
abna mater in 1876. 

Rev. John W. Raj- became acting pastor April 1, 1857. He was 
invited to settle but declined. He closed his labors Ma}- 1, 1867. 
He was born in Chester, Dec. 23, 1814 ; was graduated at Dart- 
moutli College in 1843. Previous to his coming here he had been 
a teacher in Atkinson Academy; Manchester' High School; at 
Eastport, Me. ; at Merrimack Normal Institute ; at Pinkerton 
Acadeni}', Derry ; and also pastor at Rockville, Ct. Since leaving 
here he has been acting pastor at Hastings and Lake City, Minn., 
being now at the latter place. 

Mr. Charles A. Towle was called to the pastorate in 1868, but 
declined. 

Your present pastor was born in New, now East Alstead, July 
11, 1834 ; was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1858 ; studied the- 
ology two years at Union Theological Seminar}-, New York City, 
in the class of 1861 ; was ordained pastor at Stoddard, Oct. 2> 
1861, and installed pastor of this cluirch, Feb. 4, 1869, having 
commenced his labors two months previously. 

A roll of the church from the beginning had never been kept. 
Within a few 3-cars one has been made, as accurate as possil)le, and 
it now has upward of 800 names. Without doubt it should con- 
tain from twent}' to fifty more, who were members fiom 1771 to 



17 



1781, but the records are lost. The eighteen names we have were 
found scattered through the subsequent records, where reference 
was made to them. 

There have been seasons of revival and of depression in the 
histor}' of this church. Several important revivals has it enjo3-ed : 
in 1802, under Mr. Morril ; in 1819, under Mr. Manning ; in 1826- 
7-8, under Mr. Wood ; in 1831-2, under Messrs. Wood and 
Stowell ; in 1835, under Mr. Stowell ; in 1864, under Mr. Ray; 
and the one in 1875. Two fifths of all the additions to the church 
from the beginning have occurred in these years. Against these 
occasions of rejoicing, wc must place other seasons of depression 
and trial, when the hand of God has seemed to be against us because 
of our sins — when there were dissentions within, and trouble with- 
out, when the prevailing iniquity of the place seemed to render 
futile all etforts to bring about a better state of things, and when 
defection, intemperance and worldliness seemed about to rend the 
church in pieces. God, having planted the vine, would not leave 
it to be destroyed. When its uprootal seemed imminent, He 
watched it with tenderest care ; when the soil about it had become 
dry and hard, He watered it with the Hoi}' Spirit. It has been 
with it as with the church of God from the beginning : there have 
been times when it seemed as though it would die, but it has never 
died, — it never can die so long as there remain in it those who are 
true to their Master and to each other. We still live because 
"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." 

There has been progress. The advance ma}- not have been seen 
from year to year, but we can see it now. Within the memor}' of 
those now living a member of this church sought a letter of dis- 
mission and recommendation to a Methodist church, which was 
met by the appointment of a committee to discipline her. To-day 
we should all have said to a similar request "Go and God be with 
you." 

In early times the services of the sanctuary were ver^- lengthy — 
the two sermons were each about an hour long — as often running 
over this time as coming under. The praj'ers were very long — 
the "long pra^'cr" so called not usually less than thirty minutes. 
Between services the people went to the "nooning house" where 
they warmed themselves at a huge fire of logs, and with flip and 



18 



cider. Here also the^^ ate their browu bread, or beans, or other 
refreshment they had brought with them. Here the women filled 
their dishes with coals for their foot stoves: No other artificial heat 
was tolerated in the house of God for man^' 3'ears, and when at 
last stoves were introduced there was, upon the part of the conser- 
vatives, a great outcry- ; they claimed the\' were uncomfortable be- 
cause they were comfortable, and the}^ predicted the judgment of 
heaven because of the sacreligious innovation. There were no 
prayer-meetings in those early days, no Sabbath schools, almost 
no books or newspapers. The Sabbath services furnished about 
all the mental food the people had, save what they received from 
the Bible. 

The first notice we have of a prayer-meeting in this place was in 
1826, Aug. 16, when one was appointed by ihe church, and neighbor- 
ing ministers were invited to attend, and aid in carrying it on. April 
5, 1838, a monthly prayer-meeting was established, and June 9, 
1844, it was made a weekly meeting. It was evidently given up 
sometime after, as a vote is recorded Jan. 7, 1847, reviving it. 
Let it not be inferred there was no praying by God's people before 
this, because there was not social prayer. Our fathers did not 
know its power and its blessedness. They acted according to the 
light they had. Sui-ely there has been progress here. 

The first notice of Sabbath schools was in 1821 , when several were 
appointed in the various school houses of the town upon Sabbath 
afternoons. Of what the exercises consisted, we have no account, 
but probably of little more than the memorizing the Bible and the 
Catechism. When the Sabbath school was introduced as a part of 
the regular services of the sanctuary, T am not informed. 

It may surprise some of 3'ou to knew that slavery ever existed 
in this place, but this must have been the case, as Sept. 1, 1785, 
"Catherine, a negro, formerh' belonging to Esq. "Blodgett, was 
baptized." 

In looking at the way the Lord has led us, during the more than 
a centur}'' of our existence, we have abundant reason for taking 
courage and pressing forward. The timid seldom win a battle. 
God said to Joshua, "Be strong and go forward." If Joshua had 
been a timid man, and there had been no courageous one to take 
his place, the entrance to the promised land without doubt would 



19 



have been dela3-ed for a long time. So there is no question but 
the church looses many advantages by its timidity, bj' forgetting 
that its cause is the Lord's, and that He is with it so far and so 
long as it follows him. 

It does not follow that every act of the church is riofht, an}'^ more 
than it does that ever act of an individual is right. But in reading 
the records of this church, one will be struck at the wisdom dis- 
played in the most critical periods of its history. Wise counsels 
usually prevailed. There have always been, as now, those who 
were i-ndical in their ideas, not stopping to look at the conse- 
quences; and, on the other hand, there have been conservatives, 
who never would have had any change, but would do and live pre- 
ciseh' as their fathers had. These two classes have acted as a 
check upon each other, and a wiser course has been pursued than 
as though either had had full control. In this we can see how the 
Lord has helped us. 

If I should mention the names of some of the early members of 
this church, few of you would recall them, while the most of you 
never beard them. "Our fathers where are they?" Thej^ have 
fulfilled their earthly mission and entered into their reward. 
Formerly they travelled these roads, or roamed over these hills 
and through this pleasant vallc}', with as much animation as we, 
as full of hope, as full of the consciouness of their own importance 
as we. Some of them have now been sleeping for two or three 
genei'alions, and their dust, even, could not be found, though 
sought with greatest care. Soon we shall be numbered with them. 
We are full of life and hope to-day, but not one of us will live to 
see the next centennial. We shall take our places in the dust, 
but the world and its affairs will run on all the same. Some hearts 
will bleed when we are removed, but the surging mass will not 
long mind it. It is an unpleasant thought, — tending to humility ; 
and though I would not have you gloomy, I would have you think 
of it. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




